Chapter 28: Finding a Place to Stay

“Miss, you are truly lucky; this room has just been vacated.”

The real estate agent introduced enthusiastically, leading Yang Luo into an alley.

The alley was very narrow, containing only three households, and all appeared uninhabited. Covered in moss, it felt like a completely different world from the bustling marketplace not far away.

The agent led Yang Luo and Mo Zheng to the innermost unit, unlocked the door, and revealed a small courtyard with three rooms—compact and exquisite.

Yang Luo asked Mo Zheng, “What do you think? Do you like it?”

If she were actually going to give this house to her, Mo Zheng smiled and nodded. “It’s convenient to go out since it faces the street, yet it’s quiet once you walk in.”

Furthermore, crossing just one street would lead to the Duke of Ding'an's manor, making it easy to monitor their movements while remaining hidden and undetected. Yang Luo was also very satisfied.

The agent said, “Miss, the most important thing is the price. It’s hard to find such a deal in the capital. That’s why I say you’re lucky; it was just vacated yesterday, and you came to ask about it. If you had waited a few more days, it would certainly have been snatched up.”

It was indeed good luck; she had thought they would have to search for several more days. Originally, she felt they should have chosen a larger agency, but following the principle of "seeking wealth through poverty," the generous young hunter had chosen an agency that didn't look particularly prosperous.

“Don't look down on an unremarkable agency; if they can stay in business, they must have their skills,” the young hunter had said, looking very knowledgeable.

At the time, she had thought A-Sheng had become timid after entering the capital, but she hadn't expected him to actually find such a place.

Yang Luo looked around and signaled to Mo Zheng, “This is the one.”

Mo Zheng complied.

The agent happily led the two out. As they walked through the alley, a tall, bearded man in his thirties suddenly approached from the opposite direction, carrying a basket. Inside the basket, a pig's head stared at them.

Both the agent and Yang Luo were startled. A moment later, a courtyard door opened, and a woman walked out.

“...Why is buying a pig's head taking so long? The brine is about to boil away.”

She was a woman in her thirties, and she was carrying a knife in her hand...

Yang Luo and the agent instinctively stopped in their tracks.

“Are these the new neighbors?” the woman asked with a smile when she saw them.

Mo Zheng gave a hum of affirmation and signaled to Yang Luo, “Miss, let's go.”

Only then did Yang Luo hurry her pace, with the agent following closely behind. As they reached the mouth of the alley, the agent muttered quietly, “The house next door was rented out too? I hadn't heard anything.”

Mo Zheng whispered to Yang Luo from behind, “Do you mind having neighbors? Should we look for another place?”

Yang Luo shook her head. “It’s better to have neighbors. If something happens, perhaps they can look out for us.”

Mo Zheng agreed. As Yang Luo followed the agent, she lingered a step behind and looked back, seeing the couple standing at their doorstep talking, also looking at them...

Mo Zheng withdrew her gaze and walked onto the main street.

Once the house was rented, the courtyard swept, and the furniture purchased, Yang Luo even wanted to go to a temple to request incense and pray for blessings for the new home, but she was stopped by Mo Zheng.

“Miss, we only have one chest of money, and more than half of it has already been spent,” he said. “Besides, you didn't come to the capital to settle down. You should think about what to do next. Is it just to watch the Duke of Ding'an's manor from the streets?”

Naturally, Yang Luo had not come to the capital to rent a house and settle down; she simply wanted to make Mo Zheng's life more comfortable before the unfortunate ending arrived.

Of course, for someone who did not know the ending, such intentions were impossible to explain.

Yang Luo smiled, nodding and then shaking her head. “I have already thought about what comes next, but it isn't watching the Duke of Ding'an's manor.”

Mo Zheng asked curiously, “Then what?”

Yang Luo looked at the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone laid out on the newly purchased desk, along with several books.

“Studying hard,” she said.

...

...

The night was deep. In the alley, lights flickered in two of the three houses, adding a sense of life to the area.

Inside one house, the young lady was slumped over the desk, fast asleep, still clutching a brush in her hand.

In the neighboring courtyard, two rooms had been knocked through into one. In one room, a chopping board was set up, and the couple was busy chopping meat and deboning with rhythmic thuds; on the other side, two stoves were burning brightly.

“Studying hard?”

The woman quickly stripped the meat from a bone and tossed it into a large pot, asking curiously, “What is she planning to do?”

Mo Zheng tossed firewood into the two stove pits. “Five years ago, the Emperor summoned the most learned scholars in the world to the capital to debate scriptures. A year later, he established the Imperial Academy, appointed the Prince of Qi as the Chancellor, and hired five contemporary great scholars to teach. Scholars from all over the world, regardless of school, age, or background, can study at the Imperial Academy as long as they pass the examinations, after which they are selected for official positions. The first batch of talents has already been selected, and this year will bring the second great examination.”

Yang Luo had indeed mentioned the Imperial Academy, but she actually did not know the history behind it.

If she were present, she would certainly be shocked that the young hunter knew so much.

However, the couple chopping meat in the room were not surprised in the least.

The bearded man only stared in surprise. “She wants to take the exam too? Can women take it?”

Mo Zheng shook his head. “Women indeed cannot take the exam.” He smiled slightly. “However, women can study.”

He looked at the two of them.

“Recently, the Emperor decided to let three princesses study at the Imperial Academy, so he is selecting study companions for them.”

This was something Yang Luo had said—well, it was a matter of precognition from an unknown source.

The man and woman understood.

“A-Sheng, you know so much,” the woman praised, before glaring at the bearded man. “Zhang Shengyou, you came to the capital completely in the dark, knowing nothing at all.”

The bearded man, Zhang Shengyou, gave a silly laugh. “I only know that I must protect A-Sheng.”

Tao Hua muttered, “But A-Sheng almost lost his life, and Mr. Jiang's family died as well.”

This time, Zhang Shengyou did not argue; his expression turned somber.

A flash of melancholy passed through Mo Zheng's eyes, but he quickly said, “It will definitely be investigated. I am not dead yet, and they will come again. When that time comes...”

Tao Hua let out a sharp laugh, her knife thudding rhythmically against the chopping board. “When that time comes, I'll chop them to death.”

Though Zhang Shengyou said nothing, his gaze was resolute.

Mo Zheng nodded with a smile and moved on from the topic. “In short, the princesses need study companions. The powerful and noble families all want to send their daughters. To ensure fairness and to select truly talented companions for the princesses, His Majesty has ordered the Imperial Academy to hold an examination.”

Tao Hua said, “So that Miss Yang wants to take this exam to be a princess's companion.” She frowned. “But how can this Miss Yang take the exam? Isn't she living under an assumed name?”

Although the Imperial Academy allowed scholars from all over the world to enroll, it didn't mean just anyone off the street could enter; one needed a clean background, a known name, and a recognized lineage or teacher.

The selection of companions for the princesses would naturally be even more stringent. How could someone with no name and an unknown background be allowed in?

Mo Zheng nodded. “The selection for the princesses' companions has been done via advance invitations. Aside from the powerful families in the capital and the great clans from various regions, invitations were also sent to academies across the land.”

This was a way to allow women from families that were not prominent but had a tradition of scholarship to participate.

It was also a method used by the Emperor to open the doors to talent from humble backgrounds.

However, the previously nameless Yang Luo was not among these talents and was not eligible to receive an invitation.

“Then what is the use of her studying hard?” Tao Hua asked, puzzled.

Mo Zheng shook his head. “I don't know. She hasn't told me what she wants me to do yet.” He smiled again. “But, this Miss Yang is quite formidable.”

(End of Chapter)